Addis Ababa, September 17, 2026 (FMC) — Ethiopia’s quest for sea access is an existential national imperative, firmly rooted in the country’s economic, geographic, strategic and legal interests, Ethiopian Shipping and Logistics (ESL) CEO Engineer Abdulber Shemsu said.
Abdulber said Ethiopia’s landlocked status is imposing a heavy and recurring economic cost, compelling the country to spend billions of dollars in foreign currency each year while placing significant constraints on economic growth and the movement of trade.
He said these realities reinforce the legitimacy of Ethiopia’s longstanding quest to secure sea access in line with its natural, geographic, strategic and legal interests.
Ethiopia, he said, is not approaching the maritime sphere from a position of dependence, but has developed substantial capabilities in shipping, transport and logistics that demonstrate its readiness to play a competitive role in international maritime trade.
The country’s pool of qualified ship captains, together with established operational and institutional structures, reflects capabilities that can underpin a stronger and more effective maritime presence, Abdulber said.
He described Ethiopia’s loss of sea access as a major national setback, emphasizing its far-reaching consequences for maritime transport, logistics and the broader economy.
The absence of direct sea access is driving up port-related costs, slowing the movement of imports and exports and imposing wider economic costs that directly weigh on growth, he explained.
Abdulber’s remarks underscore Ethiopia’s position that securing sustainable sea access is not merely a matter of trade logistics, but a strategic national imperative tied to the country’s economic future, geographic realities and long-term development interests.